Light-projecting apparatus



May 20,1924. 4 I 1,495.121 G. T. THOMPSQN I LIGHT PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed March 6. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

' G. T. THOMPSON LIGHT PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed March 6. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

3111mm) GT Thompson.

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' instance as a spotlight, theapparatus em- Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED s'ra'res GEORGE '1. THOMPSON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LIGHTPROJECTING AI'PARATUS.

Application filed March 6, 192a.- serial no. 623,257.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the cityof \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in a Light- Projecting Apparatus, of which the'follow ing is a specification.

My invention relates in general to a light projecting apparatus and particularly to a device of this character capable of various adjustments whereby the rays of reflected light may be concentrated, diffused or divided or separated and projected in different directions.

The arrangement and construction of my 1 improved light projecting apparatus is such that the same maybe conveniently used for bodying a plurality of reflectors adjustable in such a manner as to enable the light to be concentrated and used as a spotlight orto be diffused and used as a fioodlight. In accomplishing these uses of my invention I have provided means whereby the plurality of reflectors may be synchronously adjusted in one operation and the adjustmentimparted to the reflectors maintained in a convenient manner.

My invention also contemplates the pro vision of means whereby the several reflectors may be individually adjusted with.

reference to the light and retained in their relatively adjusted positions by means of their operative connections with the reflector operating means.- By this construction'I am enabled to separate one or more of the reflected .beams of light and,

project the same to points out of the line of projectionof the remaining rays whereby I:

can illuminate for instance the corners of a sign or other portion of the object tobe illuminated which can not'be conveniently brought within the line of projection of the combined rays of light.

Another constructional feature of my invention is thearrangement of the'parts whereby the heat generated by the light may,

be efliciently dissipated by properly ventilating the interior of the lamp whereby instead of employing arc lamps as is generally customary I can satisfactorily employ an ordinary incandescent electric lamp. c

I furthermore provide means for con-- veniently centering the lamp with respect to the light projecting apparatus so as to comdrawings, wherein:

pensatefor any inaccuracies in centering the lamp filament, my improved construction enabling me to qu ckly center the lamp and secure the samein its adjusted position.

The entire construction is so arranged that the several adjustments may be quicklyand easily accomplished; and the parts are furthermoreso enclosed'as to enable the ap-' paratus to be employed in the open withoutfear of'any disastrous results from the inclemency of the weather.

The novel, combinatlon, construction and arrangement of parts will be described more fully hereinafter, especially when considered'lin connection with the accompanying Fig. 1 is a front thereof being shown partly broken away.

Fig. 2 1 s a rear elevation, the rear cover plate beingbroken away to show'the interior construction.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged. sectional view taken von the plane indicated by the line 3,-3 in Fig 1,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspectivevie of the reflector adjusting means,

I Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the planejndielevation of a light proectmg gapparatus constructed in accordance with any 1nvention,the front plate illustrated a pan-shaped housing or casing I which-is-made preferably of metalfas is most of, the structure so as to enable this apparatus to beused for outside work. The." front'side of the, casing or housing 10 is open and the back of the housing is provided with a centrally arranged opening 11 for a purpose tobe illustrated more fully hereinafter. For enclosing the opening 11 and protecting the receptacle of the incan-- descent light employed in connection with this reflecting apparatus, I provide a cover plate 12 whichv is adapted to be secured to thelmain casing 10 by engagement with a circular collar 13, securedto the rear ofthe casing 10. This cover 12 may be easily removed from' the collar 13 when access to the lamp isdesired, the cover being provided with. a restrictedcentral aperture 1&1 to perther'more.-securing means such as a'split mit the passage therethrough oi" the wires leading to the lamp.

Arranged centrally of the casing and on theinside thereof is a lamp housing which is preferably octagonal in shape and has arranged in each of its eight sides a condensing lens 16 secured therein in any preferable manner. The lamp-housing 15 is formed with a back 17 centrally apertured as at 18 to permit the insertion or removal of a lamp if desired, and to assist in dissipating the heat generated bythe lamp by providing a ventilating passage. The lamp housing is rigidly secured in place and in spaced relation with reference to the rear'of the housing 10 by means of bolts 19 surrounded by spacing sleeves 2O whichcngage on the one hand the back of the lamp housing and on the other hand the back of the casing 10. The front otthe lamp housing 15 is closed by adoor ll-preferably hinged thereto as at 22 and centrally apertured as at 23. Concentric with the opening 23 is a center condensing lens 24:

supported by a ring 25 which in turn is supported rigidly upon and in spaced relation to the cover or door 21 liybolts 26 surrounded by spacing sleeves 27. It will be noted that here also there is provided ventilating passages to assist in dissipating the heat generated by the incandescent lamp.

Vhile I have illustrated the lamp housing 15 as octagonal in shape, it is to be of course. understood that this is for illustrative purposes only and that theshape ot the lamp housing and consequently the number of concentrating lenses 16 may be varied as the purposes to which the projecting apparatus is to beput, dictate. In the present instance it will be noted that nine beams of light are produced, eight extending from the sides of the lamp housing and one through the center thereof, through theconcentrating lens 24.

Fonclosing the open front side of the housing 10 I provide a cover plate 9.8 centrally recessed as at 29 to enablethe light' to be projected through the center concentrating lens 2t and in this present instance eightkcystone shaped openings 31) radially disposed to permit the passage therethrough of the reflected rays of light extending through the concentrating lenses 16 are pro-- vided. The openings 30 are preferably closed by panes of glass 31 secured to the cover plate 28 in any suitable manner. Furring 32 may be employed for remova'bly securing the cover plate upon the casmglt).

The reflecting means consisting ofa plurality of reflectors 33 hingedly connected as at 3+ to the lamp housing 15 is also providcd. Obviously the number of reflectors 33 will correspond to the number of concentrating lenses employed. Associated with be condensed. In practice the rays of light reflected by the reflectors 33 are directed toward the light'radiating from the center condensing lens 24 to augment and intensity the light many degrees.

For synchronously operating the reflectors 33 during the adjustment of the same I provide preferably an operating ring 36 supported for rotation in a circumferential direction by means of supporting brackets 37 arranged'a-t spaced intervals on the back of the housing 10. These brackets each comprise a pair of spaced members 38 between which there is journalled a roller 39. Secured to each reflector 33 is a flexible operating member 40 secured ,to the reflectors as at 11 and extending through apertures as at 42 arranged" in the back of the casing 10. A bracket supported roller 39 is providedfor eachoperating. member 40 and as the cable or operating member 40 emerges from the casing 10 it is passed over the adjacent roller or pulley 39.v The endot" each cable or flexible member 404s adjustably secured to the operating ring 36 by means of a cleat 43 mounted uponthe ring and'secured in its adjusted position by means of a set screw 44. ber 40 is preferably brought through-apertures formed in the cleat 43 and is wrapped around the set screw 44 to secure the ends of the cable thereto; Obviously theposition of the cleat- 43 may be adjusted with refer-,

ence to the ring 36' which will in turn adjust the position of the associated reflector ()bviously, after the reflectors I): have been secured by means of their operating members 4-0 to the ring 36 all of the reflectors may be synchronously adjusted by rotating the ring 36 in a circumferential direction.- For accomplishing this adjustment of the ring 36 I provide a handlc 45 and for securing the ring iuits adjustcd'position there is'preierably secured-to the back of the housing a bracket 46 provided with a set screw 47 which may be caused to impinge the ring 36 to lock the same after the desired synchronous adjustment has been made.

- The reference character 48 indicates an incandescent electric lamp the receptacle 4!) thereof extending through a, supporting bracket formed preferably of strap metal.

The bracket consists of a member 50 and a- The flexible membracket section is formed with-an elongated slot- 54 through which passes a set screw 55 whereupon the bracket which is connected to the back of thecasing 10 is capable. of longitudinal adjustment. The other end of the bracket member 50 is also formed with an elongated slot 56 while the back of .the casing is formed with an opening 57 arranged back of the slot 56. A set screw 58 passes through the slot 56 and opening 57 and carries a washer 57 for securing this end of the bracket tothe casing. The. bracket in its entirety is therefore capable of longitudinal adjustment transversely to the axis of the receptacle 4:9 and swinging vertical adjustment with the set screw 55 acting as a pivot. The end carrying the slot 56 is capable of a substantially universal movement. In this manner the filament of the incandescent lamp 48 may be centered to compensate for any error in the manufacture of the same. \Vhile I have described in some detail this particular manner of etlecting this adjustment, it is to be understood that various other expedients for accomplishing this may be resorted to the herein described structure being referred to in detail solely for the purpose of illustrating one simple mechanical construction for accomplishing the desired results.

When my improved reflecting apparatus is employed for outside work the front plate 28 is preferably employed as well as the cover plate 12 which is arranged to enclose the light receptacle 49 as well as to cover the opening 11 in the back of the casing 10. IVith these cover plates in position, the parts of my apparatus are sufliciently enclosed to pass the requirements of the insurance underwriters.

As has been mentioned hereinbefore, the light radiating through the condensing lenses 16 is reflected by the reflectors and projected into the path of the-light beam radiating from the center condensing lens 24 thus intensifying these light rays. If the object to be illuminated can be fully illuminated by what is ordinarily termed a spotlight or by a flood light, the reflectors 33 are adjusted synchronously to either assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 or to the positionshown in dotted lines. Therefore, a small object may be illuminated or by a simple rotation of the operating ring 36 the reflectors may be opened or spread out radially to cause the rays of light to be re flected over a larger area. It is possible, therefore, with my improved reflecting apparatus to successively and efficiently illuminate objects of various sizes because-of the facility with which the plurality of reflectors 325 may be synchronously adjusted. In instances however, where my improved reflecting apparatus is to be used for illuminating for instance signs which are rectandirect these rays to the remote corners of the.

sign, particularly in view of the fact that I in sign illumination of this type the'corncrs appear relatively dark in contrast. Therefore, I am enabled to separate rays o'f light and reflect the same out of the path of the remaining rays whereby remote corners of a rectangular sign, for instance, may be illuminated. In accomplishing this separation of the light rays the selected reflectors 33 are adjusted relatively to the others by loosening cleats 43 associated with their respective operating members 40 and pulling the reflectors back toward the rear of the casing 10 a sufficient distance so as to project the light rays reflected therefrom to the point desired. flectors may be independently adjusted and maintained in this adjusted position because the operating ring 36 has been previously sccured in position by the set screw, 47. Ohviously after the necessary numbers of reflectors have been independently adjusted to illuminate the corners of a large rectangular sign for instance then should it become immediately necessary to illuminate a sign Any number of these re similar in shape but smaller in size the ring 36 may thereupon be rotated to' permit the.

reflectors to move inwardly toward the lenses whereupon the rays of light will all be concentrated and confined to the surface of the smaller sign, the corners being fully illuminated while the greater part of the light is directed upon the center of the sign as desired.

Vhen a centering of the light of the incandescent lamp 48 becomes necessary the cover 12 is slipped off the collar 13 and along the wires leading to the light, whereupon access may be had to the light supporting bracket and a proper adjustment made. As mentioned hereinbefore, the front cover plate is preferably only employed when the projecting apparatus is used out in the open and after this plate has been removed, access may be had to the interior of the lamp housing 15 by opening the door 21 thereof.

lVhile one physical embodiment of my invention has been illustrated and described in some detail it will be obvious to those skilled r one direction,

lenses, an operating member arranged on said casing for synchronously adjusting said reflectors and means connecting said reflectors to said operating means whereby said reflectors may be independently adjusted.

2. In a light projecting apparatus, a cas ing, a lamp housing arranged therein, a plurality of condensing lenses arranged in the sides of said lamp housing, a center condensing' lens arranged in the front of said lamp housing, a plurality of reflectors associated with said side condensing lenses, a circumferentially rotatable operating member mounted on saidcasing, meansconnecting said reflectors to said operating member, spring means for moving said reflectors in said reflectors being synchronously adjustable against the action of said springs by rotating said adjusting member.

2-3. In a light pro ecting apparatus, a casing, a lamp housing arranged therein, a plurality of condensing lenses arranged in the side of said lamp housing, aplurality of reflectors pi'votally secured to said lamp housing and cooperating with said side condensing lenses, springs tending to move said reflectors in one direction, a circumferentially rotatable ring arranged on the rear of said casing, flexible members connecting said reflectors to said ring whereby upon rotation of said ring said reflectors will be synchronously adjusted and means for securing said ring in its ad usted position.

4. In a light. pro ecting apparatus, a casing, a lamp housing contained therein, a plurality ot' condensing lenses arranged in the side of said lamp housing, a plurality of reflectors associated with said condensinglenses, a circumferential] y rotatable operating member mounted on said casing, flexible members connected to said reflectors, means adjust.- ably' connecting the ends of said flexible members to said operating member, springs normally urging the reflectors in one direction and means for synchronously adjusting said reflectors by rotating said operating member.

5. In a light projecting apparatus, a casing, a cover plate formed with a plurality of glass covered openings adapted to close the open side of said casing, a lamp housing arranged -Within said casing, a plurality of lenses arranged in the sides of said lamp housing, a plurality of reflectors hingedly secured to said lamp housing, springs normally urging said reflectors toward said lamp housing, flexible members secured to said reflectors, a ring member supported for circumferential rotation on the back of said asing, cleats adjustably secured on said ring member, the ends of said flexible members) being secured to said cleats, said ring member being circumferentially movable to synchronously adjust said reflectors and means for locking said ring in its adjusted position.

GEORGE r. THOMPSON. 

